Replacing Fuel Lines - How?

[GonadSX]

Ok, I have spent the better part of last night and this morning
searching several boards but nothing much has come out of it.

First the story. I drove home yesterday from work and noticed a
puddle behind my car. Look under the car and I see it dripping.
Felt it, smelled it, it was fuel. The rupture seems to be right under
the front passenger seat.

I am not sure if its the main fuel line or the return fuel line.

After looking under the car briefly and looking up on boards, it
seems that the steel lines are hooked up to rubber hoses on
the two ends. The lines are also packed tightly against the
passenger side frame rail using clamps and stuff.

So what do I do? Just disconnect all the clamps, disconnect the
lines from the two rubber ends, drop the line, buy new line,
bend it accordingly, and off I go?

Is there anything technical involved? Besides buying a pipe
bender?

How big are the lines? Is there a certain size? What other option
do I have? I have considered taping it up temporarily but it's
still leaking/dripping right now so its hard to get it dry enough
before I tape it up.

[dannyca13]

that sucks but your best bet is to pick some up at a junkyard. they arent the kind of thing that most people take off a car so it should be pretty easy to find. the install should be self explanatory but a pain in the ass.

[transient]

Mmm... I'd check the rubber hoses first. They'd have a much greater tendancy to rot out than the steel line. If, however, you need to replace the hardline then yes, tubing and a bender will do the trick. You might also look into putting in some better lines and fittings if you have to take the time to do it anyway. http://www.russellperformance.com/automotive/index.html has some great lines and connection systems that will put you well on your way to a more standard fuel system. Of course, not everyone has the money / time, so if you don't, you might want to do what Danny said and get the lines off a junked car.

I will mention, the trickiest part of the entire stall is around the rear subframe. The lines have to go through about 5 different places and it's a total pita, but it'll eventually fit in there. You shouldn't have to remove anything but the lines themselves.

[GonadSX]

Thanks for the tips. I would like the fuel line kit fom Russell but I guess I will hold off on that till a later time.

I will be heading down to the junkhard on the 5th, so hopefully I have a temporary fix by then.

I'm going to look into taking a short rubber fuel hose and sliding it down along the front lines (just under
the fuel filter) and then clamp it up where the hole is.

Any more advice?

[transient]

Mmm, not really. I take it you checked and it is actually the hardline that's leaking? Very strange... Anyway, If you can cut off the broken section of hardline and attach some hose there w/o it leaking, then I see no reason to replace the whole thing (right away).

[GonadSX]

Well here are some pics of the aftermath. It's hard for me to tell just yet
which one is cracked since I can't really see fuel coming out without having
one person crank the car while I'm underneath watching.

Guess I'll find out tomorrow.

http://240sx.cubicdesign.com/images/2004/fuelline/fuelline1.jpg
http://240sx.cubicdesign.com/images/2004/fuelline/fuelline2.jpg
http://240sx.cubicdesign.com/images/2004/fuelline/fuelline3.jpg